AVIATION INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT IN ZIMBABWE KEY TO FLYING MORE TOURISTS AROUND THE COUNTRY
(Posted 19th September 2019)
The recently concluded #Sanganai2019 World Tourism Expo in Bulawayo once again provided the platform to speak with key staff of the Zimbabwe Civil Aviation Authority and discuss in length their programme to further develop not just Bulawayo – the country’s third international airport – but also other fields across the country, which fall under them.
https://atcnews.org/2019/09/10/zimbabwe-set-for-bulawayo-airport-upgrade/
Nunurai Ndawana, a valued contact for several years by now, made it possible to speak with the Director of Airport at ZCAA, Mr. Tawanda Gusha and the PR and Communications Manager Mrs. Anna Julia Hungwe in some detail about ZCAA’s current plans, an interview published on YouTube via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXferQvxG-s&feature=share&fbclid=IwAR3OhHmm_FUz95AJoCSu1apsgW4MwkSn67NFBFT_14qkKfrZSxQ0NPYySYw
What also became clear at the time is the wide range of additional airfields or aerodromes which fall under the Director Airports of the ZCAA, effectively covering the entire country though some of them in need to invest further in terminal buildings, aviation infrastructure such as towers, runway lighting and beacons but also fire fighting equipment and runway extensions and resealing.
Two key such aerodromes were named by Mr. Gusha as Kariba Airport ( KAB) and Buffalo Range (BFO), already in regular use by charters – and when the MoU between Mack Airways and Air Zimbabwe takes off for real – also for scheduled flights.
https://atcnews.org/2019/08/30/air-zimbabwe-to-serve-smaller-airfields-again-to-boost-tourism/
Hwange National Park too can be reached by air (HWN and WKI) as can Gweru (GWE), Mutare (UTA) and others such as Binga, Bumi Hills, Charles Prince Airport not far from Harare, Chipinge, Grand Reef, Kotwa, Kwekwe, Mahenye, Marondera, Masvingo and Zvishavane.
Spread across the country can tourists already use charter flights to get close to their often remote bush location and can then be picked up by camp or lodge vehicles on arrival, or be dropped off at the field again on departure. This is important as upmarket tourists, who spend a lot more money on their safari as a result of aircraft charters or domestic flight tickets to the remoter parts of Zimbabwe, are key in raising revenues and then become destination ambassadors for the country as a result of good experiences.
ZCAA has promised to provide regular updates on work carried out in Bulawayo and across other airfields and ATCNews will be happy to share such information with the readers.
